Pass case

ABSTRACT

A pass case for use with a French purse which has a compartment for receiving bills and a coin purse. The pass case includes a plurality of folded plastic wings for receiving cards and a flexible leather flap for covering the plastic wings and holding them in a folded position. Each of the folded plastic wings are attached to a fastening means which is in turn rigidly connected to the metal frame of the coin purse. One edge of the flexible leather flap is also rigidly clamped by the metal frame of the coin purse and the other end of the flexible leather flap opposite that secured by the metal frame is receivable under a relatively rigid plastic restraining member which releasably secures the leather flap against the plastic wings to hold them against the coin purse.

United States Patent Reis Dec. 30, 1975 [54] PASS CASE FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1 lhvemori Reis, West Bend, 1,507,914 11 1967 France 150 35 582,797 ll/l946 United Kingdom. ISO/35 [73] Ase'gnee g3? i E Pmducts west 1,049,652 12 1953 France 150 37 Filed: p 28, 1975 Primary Examiner-William Price [21] APPL No; 572 530 Assistant ExaminerStephen Marcus Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Jam1es E. Nilles [52] US. Cl. 150/35; 150/29; 11550003378; [57] ABSTRACT 151 1m. 01. A45C 1/08; A45C 11/18 A P Case for use with a French Purse which has a 5 m of Search 150/29, 30, 35, 37, 38, compartment for receiving bills and a coin purse. The 150/39; D87/3 A, 3 3 pass case includes a plurality of folded plastic wings for receiving cards and a flexilble leather flap for cov- [56] References Cited ering the plastic wings and holding them in a folded UNITED STATES PATENTS position. Each of the folded plastic wings are attached to a fastening means which is in turn rigidly connected ga' to the metal frame of the coin purse. One edge of the 27209O4 10/1955 Jeffer 150; flexible leather flap is also rigidly clamped by the 2 857 948 10/1958 Schles siii g er et al. "I: 150 metal frame of the Puree and the other end of the 2:860:68O 11/1958 Chase D87/3 A x flexible leather flap Opposite that Seemed by the metal 237 11 1959 Cohen et 1 /35 frame is receivable under a relatively rigid plastic re- 3,120,253 2/1964 St. Thomas... 150/35 straining member which releasably secures the leather 3,266,544 8/1966 Snyder 150/39 flap against the plastic wings to hold them against the 3,438,415 4/1969 Burniski et al 150/35 coin purse Dl38,354 7/l944 Smallman 150/35 X D160,l47 9/1950 Chase 150/39 x 14 Claims, 7 Drawing Flgures US. Patent Dec.30, 1975 Sheet10f4 3,929,177

Sheet 2 of 4 3,929,177

US. Pamnt Dec. 30, 1975 US. Patent Dec. 30, 1975 Sheet 3 Of4 3,929,177

US, Patent Dec. 30, 1975 Sheet 4 of4 3,929,177

PASS CASE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a pass case for use in a French purse or wallet including a coin purse in combination with a bill compartment. The pass case of the invention is of the type which is hingedly attached to a French purse or wallet and which has a plurality of transparent plastic wings for receiving and displaying cards.

A French purse including a pass case is shown, for example, by the patent to Burniski et al, US. Pat. No. 3,438,415 issued Apr. 16, I959. The patent to Burniski illustrates generally the means used in the prior art for securing the pass case to the French purse and the use of a relatively rigid plastic flap acting to restrain the flexible flap of the pass case and to secure it against the plastic wings contained in the pass case.

The present invention is an improvement over the prior art because it includes an improved fastening means for removably securing the flexible plastic wings in the pass case, because it includes an improved restraining means for securing the flexible flap covering the pass case and because it includes an improved arrangement of the elements of the pass case and the means by which they are secured facilitating a decrease in the cost of manufacture of the French purse or wallet.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a pass case having a plurality of flexible plastic wings which are removably secured therein, and more particularly, to the means by which the pass case is arranged in the French purse or wallet, the means by which it is attached thereto and the means for maintaining the pass case in a closed position.

The pass case of the present invention includes a generally rectangular flexible leather flap which is firmly attached along one of its edges to the metal frame around the coin purse of the French purse and which covers a plurality of folded transparent plastic wings and holds them in a folded relation against the coin purse. A relatively rigid plastic restraining member is secured by stitching, for example, to the inner flexible wall of the French purse and adjacent to the bottom seam of the coin purse in such a manner that it is positioned so as to slidably receive an edge of the flexible leather flap and to restrain the flexible leather flap against the plastic wings to hold them against the coin purse. The pass case also includes a plastic wing holder which is also secured by the metal frame and in back to back relation with the flexible leather flap. The plastic wing holder includes a pair of opposed inwardly extending projections which receive the plastic wings and secure them in the pass case but facilitate their easy removal or replacement.

An object of the present invention is to provide a means for securing the pass case in the French purse in such a manner that the transparent plastic wings are readily accessible yet secured when not in use. It is also an object of the invention to provide means for attaching the pass case and the flexible leather flap covering the pass case so as to facilitate the economy of manufacture of the pass case and the French purse. Other objects and advantages of the present invention are set 2 forth in the drawings and in the more detailed description set out hereafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a French purse embodying the present invention, the view being taken generally from the inside of the purse and showing the coin purse in an open position.

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but showing the purse partially cut away in the interest of clarity.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the plastic back wall of the coin purse.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the French purse embodying the present invention, showing the coin purse closed and showing the pass case in an open position.

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the pass case, of the hinge for securing the pass case, and of the restraining means.

FIG. 6 is an elevation view of the inside of the purse showing the leather flap restrained by the plastic restraining means.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 77 of FIG. 6, but on an enlarged scale and being exaggerated to show the relationship of the flexible flap to the restraining means.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The present invention is shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4 as embodied in a French purse B which is generally made of leather and which includes an envelope-like bill compartment 2 and an integrally attached coin purse 4. As best shown in FIG. 2, the bill compartment 2 generally comprises a flexible outer wall 6 and a flexible inner wall 8. The flexible outer wall 6 may be comprised of leather and have a fabric liner 10 bonded to its inner surface. The flexible inner wall 8 is comprised of a fabric and includes a panel 12 made of leather attached to the lower portion. of its inner surface as seen in FIG. 2, and includes a fllexible plastic coin purse wall 38 attached to the inner surface of its upper portion. The flexible plastic coin purse wall 38 will be more fully described hereafter. The inner flexible wall 8 and the outer flexible wall 6 are secured together along one side 16 and end 18 by a binding 22 and stitching 24. The flexible walls 6 and 8 respectively are open along their side 14 thereby forming an envelopelike compartment for receiving bills. The end of the envelope-like compartment opposite end 18 opens into the coin purse 4.

The coin purse 4, as best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, includes a hinged metal frame 26, a flexible pouch 28 and a flexible back wall 38. The flexible pouch 28 is comprised of a fabric layer 29 bonded to a plastic liner 31. The hinged metal frame 26 includes a metal back frame member 34 and a metal front frame member 36 pivotably connected at a pair of hinged joints 32. As shown in FIG. 7, the frame member 36 generally comprises a pair of folds 35 and 37 which may clampingly engage materialheld therebetween. Each of the frame members 34 and 36 include a tab member 42 projecting therefrom. The tab members 42 are capable of frictional and clamping engagement with each other when the coin purse is in the closed position in such a manner that the coin purse is securely locked in the closed position. The flexible pouch 28 comprises three sides of the coin purse 4 and a flexible back wall 38 comprises the fourth side. As shown in FIG. 2, the

pouch 28 and the flexible back wall 38 are secured together along their bottom edges 41 and 43 respectively by the stitching 44. They are also secured as shown in FIG. 1 along their side edges to each other and to the front flexible wall 8 by the stitching 48. The upper edges of the pouch 28 are received between the folds of the metal frame members 36 and 34 and clamped therein. The upper edge of the flexible back wall 38 is not secured and defines a gap 33 with the back frame member 34 such that the envelope-like bill compartment is open to the coin purse through the gap 33 so that bills in the envelope-like compartment 2 may be removed through the coin purse 4.

A leather flap member 48 is also securely clamped between the folds of the front metal frame member 36. As shown in FIG. 7, the flap member 48 includes a snap 52 which may be received within a complimentary snap (not shown) on the outside surface of the outer back flexible wall 6 when the French purse is folded together into a closed position.

As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the French purse B also includes a pass case 50 including a plurality of folded transparent flexible plastic wings 52 which are releasably secured by a plastic wing holder 54 and which are covered by a flexible leather flap 56 in such a manner that the plastic wings 52 may be held tightly folded against the coin purse 4. As bestshown in FIG. 5, the flexible plastic wings 52 generally include a pair of envelope-like pockets 60 and a thin generally rectangular transparent plastic backing 58. The thin transparent plastic backing 58 includes a pair of notches 64 which are releasably receivable in the plastic wing holder 54.

The plastic wing holder 54 generally comprises an elongated injection molded thermoplastic member 74 having a pair of opposed projections 76 which extend from each of its ends and project toward each other. The projections 76 and the elongated member 74 define a pair of slots 78 adapted to releasably receive the folded transparent flexible plastic wing members 52. As shown in FIG. 7, the plastic wing holder is received in the metal frame member 36 and firmly clamped therebetween. The plastic wing holder 54 includes a ribbed portion 82 along its edge which is receivable between the folds 35 and 37 of the frame member 36 such that it can be securely clamped by the frame member 36. The shape of the plastic wing holder 54 and the projections 76 is such that the generally flexible wings 52 may be easily removed or replaced but also provides means to secure them to prevent inadvertant loss.

The pass case 50 also includes a generally rectangular flexible leather flap 56 which is provided as means to cover and overlap the plastic wings 52 and to secure them against the coin purse 4 when they are not in use. As shown in FIG. 7, the flexible leather flap 56 is secured along one of its edges 55 between the folds 35 and 37 of the metal frame member 36. More particularly the flexible flap 56 is secured in the folds 35 and 37 between the flap member 48 and the plastic wing holder 54. The other end 57 of the flexible leather flap 56 may be slidably received by the molded thermoplastic restraining means 66 which is secured to the inner flexible wall 8. As shown in FIG. 7, the restraining means 66 includes a first portion 68 which lies adjacent to the inner flexible wall 8 and which is secured by the stitching 44 to said wall and to the bottom edges 41 and 43 of the wall of the coin purse 4 thereto. Alternatively the restraining means 66 may be riveted to the inner flexible wall 8 rather than stitched as shown in the figure. The restraining means 66 also includes a projecting flap 72 which extends toward the open end of the coin purse 4 and away from the inner wall 8 so as to define a space for receiving the end of the flexible leather flap 56. As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 6, the end of the flexible flap 56 may be slidably received between the inner flexible wall 8 and the projecting flap 72 and thus restrained by the projecting flap against the folded flexible plastic wings 52. The flexible leather flap 56 can thus secure the flexible wings 52 in a tightly folded configuration against the coin purse when they are not in use. However, since the flexible leather flap 56 is slidably received under the projecting flap it can be easily lifted to open the pass case 50 and to expose the plastic wings 52.

RESUME The construction of the French purse of the present invention includes a plurality of advantages not found in any prior art purse. The use of the plastic wing holder 54 readily facilitates the insertion of additional flexible plastic wings 52 or their removal since they can easily be inserted between the opposed projections 74. Another substantial advantage of the present invention lies in the arrangement of the flexible flap 56, the plastic wing holder 54 and the restraining member 66. Since the flexible flap 56 and the plastic wing holder 54 are secured by the folds 35 and 37 of the front metal frame 36, and since it is necessary during the manufacture of the purse or wallet to clamp the metal frame member 36 around the flap 48 and the front wall of the coin purse, no additional costly manufacturing steps are necessary to secure flexible flap 56 and plastic wing holder 54. Furthermore, since a seam 44 is required to attach the pouch 28 and the back wall 38 to the flexible wall 8 to form the closed end of the coin purse, the folded restraining member 54 may be secured by the stitching 44 without requiring additional manufacturing steps.

I claim:

1. In combination a flexible wall including two opposed ends, a coin purse attached to said flexible wall adjacent one of said ends, said coin purse having an openable end and a closed end, a pass case secured to said coin purse, said pass case including at least one folded flexible plastic wing releasably connected in hinged relation to the open end of said coin purse, a flexible flap secured to said coin purse adjacent said openable end and covering said flexible plastic wing, and a restraining means secured to said flexible wall adjacent to the closed end of said coin purse releasably restraining said flexible flap against said flexible wings and securing said pass case against said coin purse.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1 further comprising means for releasably receiving said flexible plastic wing said means being secured to said coin purse at its open end.

3. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said flexible flap is leather and said restraining means is secured to the closed end of said coin purse and includes a projecting lip for slidably receiving an edge of said flexible flap thereunder.

4. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said restraining means comprises a folded relatively rigid plastic member including a first portion which is secured to said flexible wall and to the closed end of said coin purse and a projecting flap for slidably receiving the extending end of said flexible flap.

5. A flexible wall including two opposed ends; a coin purse attached to said flexible wall adjacent one of said ends, said coin purse having an openable end bordered by a hinged frame and a closed end; a pass case adjacent to said coin purse and secured to said hinged frame, said pass case including a fastening means rigidly attached to and adjacent said openable end of the coin purse, a plurality of folded flexible plastic wings releasably received by said fastening means, and a generally rectangular flexible flap secured along one edge to said hinged frame and covering said wings; and a restraining means secured to said flexible wall and slidably receiving an edge of the flexible flap opposite the edge secured by said frame said restraining means releasably retaining said flexible flap and securing said pass case against said coin purse.

6. The combination set forth in claim wherein said flexible flap is leather and said restraining means is secured to the closed end of said coin purse and includes a projecting lip for receiving an edge of said flexible flap thereunder.

7. The combination set forth in claim 5 wherein said restraining means comprises a folded relatively rigid plastic member including a first portion which is secured to said flexible wall and to the closed end of said coin purse and a projecting flap for slidably receiving an extending end of said flexible flap.

8. The combination set forth in claim 5 wherein said secured edge of the flexible flap and the fastening means are held in back to back relation and rigidly clamped together by said hinged frame.

9. The combination set forth in claim 5 wherein said fastening means comprises an elongated substantially rigid plastic member having a pair of opposed projections at each end, said projections extending toward each other and adapted to releasably receive said folded flexible plastic wings in hinged relationship.

10. A French purse comprising: a pair of opposed flexible walls secured together to define an envelopelike bill compartment having an opening: a coin purse having an openable end bordered by a hinged frame, said purse being secured to one of said flexible walls and outside said envelope-like compartment, a pass case adjacent to said coin purse and secured to said hinged frame, said pass case including a fastening means rigidly attached adjacent said openable end of the coin purse, a plurality of folded flexible plastic wings, and a generally rectangular flexible flap secured along one edge to said hinged frame and covering said wings; and a restraining means secured to said flexible wall and slidably receiving an edge of the flexible flap opposite the edge secured by said frame and restraining means releasably retaining said flexible flap and securing said pass case against said coin purse.

11. The French purse set forth in claim 10 wherein said flexible flap is leather and said restraining means is secured to the closed end of said coin purse and includes a projecting lip for receiving an edge of said flexible flap thereunder.

12. The French purse set forth in claim 10 wherein said restraining means comprises a folded relatively rigid plastic member including a first portion which is secured to said flexible wall and to the closed end of said coin purse and a projecting flap for slidably receiving an extending end of said flexible flap.

13. The French purse set forth in claim 10 wherein said secured edge of the flexible flap and the fastening means are held in back to back relation and rigidly clamped together by said hinged frame.

14. The French purse set forth in claim 10 wherein said fastening means comprises an elongated substantially rigid plastic member having a pair of opposed projections at each end, said projections extending toward each other and adapted to releasably receive said folded flexible plastic wings in hinged relationship. =l= 

1. In combination a flexible wall including two opposed ends, a coin purse attached to said flexible wall adjacent one of said ends, said coin purse having an openable end and a closed end, a pass case secured to said coin purse, said pass case including at least one folded flexible plastic wing releasably connected in hinged relation to the open end of said coin purse, a flexible flap secured to said coin purse adjacent said openable end and covering said flexible plastic wing, and a restraining means secured to said flexible wall adjacent to the closed end of said coin purse releasably restraining said flexible flap against said flexible wings and securing said pass case against said coin purse.
 2. The combination set forth in claim 1 further comprising means for releasably receiving said flexible plastic wing said means being secured to said coin purse at its open end.
 3. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said flexible flap is leather and said restraining means is secured to the closed end of said coin purse and includes a projecting lip for slidably receiving an edge of said flexible flap thereunder.
 4. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said restraining means comprises a folded relatively rigid plastic member including a first portion which is secured to said flexible wall and to the closed end of said coin purse and a projecting flap for slidably receiving the extending end of said flexible flap.
 5. A flexible wall including two opposed ends; a coin purse attached to said flexible wall adjacent one of said ends, said coin purse having an openable end bordered by a hinged frame and a closed end; a pass case adjacent to said coin purse and secured to said hinged frame, said pass case including a fastening means rigidly attached to and adjacent said openable end of the coin purse, a plurality of folded flexible plastic wings releasably received by said fastening means, and a generally rectangular flexible flap secured along one edge to said hinged frame and covering said wings; and a restraining means secured to said flexible wall and slidably receiving an edge of the flexible flap opposite the edge secured by said frame sAid restraining means releasably retaining said flexible flap and securing said pass case against said coin purse.
 6. The combination set forth in claim 5 wherein said flexible flap is leather and said restraining means is secured to the closed end of said coin purse and includes a projecting lip for receiving an edge of said flexible flap thereunder.
 7. The combination set forth in claim 5 wherein said restraining means comprises a folded relatively rigid plastic member including a first portion which is secured to said flexible wall and to the closed end of said coin purse and a projecting flap for slidably receiving an extending end of said flexible flap.
 8. The combination set forth in claim 5 wherein said secured edge of the flexible flap and the fastening means are held in back to back relation and rigidly clamped together by said hinged frame.
 9. The combination set forth in claim 5 wherein said fastening means comprises an elongated substantially rigid plastic member having a pair of opposed projections at each end, said projections extending toward each other and adapted to releasably receive said folded flexible plastic wings in hinged relationship.
 10. A French purse comprising: a pair of opposed flexible walls secured together to define an envelope-like bill compartment having an opening: a coin purse having an openable end bordered by a hinged frame, said purse being secured to one of said flexible walls and outside said envelope-like compartment, a pass case adjacent to said coin purse and secured to said hinged frame, said pass case including a fastening means rigidly attached adjacent said openable end of the coin purse, a plurality of folded flexible plastic wings, and a generally rectangular flexible flap secured along one edge to said hinged frame and covering said wings; and a restraining means secured to said flexible wall and slidably receiving an edge of the flexible flap opposite the edge secured by said frame and restraining means releasably retaining said flexible flap and securing said pass case against said coin purse.
 11. The French purse set forth in claim 10 wherein said flexible flap is leather and said restraining means is secured to the closed end of said coin purse and includes a projecting lip for receiving an edge of said flexible flap thereunder.
 12. The French purse set forth in claim 10 wherein said restraining means comprises a folded relatively rigid plastic member including a first portion which is secured to said flexible wall and to the closed end of said coin purse and a projecting flap for slidably receiving an extending end of said flexible flap.
 13. The French purse set forth in claim 10 wherein said secured edge of the flexible flap and the fastening means are held in back to back relation and rigidly clamped together by said hinged frame.
 14. The French purse set forth in claim 10 wherein said fastening means comprises an elongated substantially rigid plastic member having a pair of opposed projections at each end, said projections extending toward each other and adapted to releasably receive said folded flexible plastic wings in hinged relationship. 